Method, system and article of manufacture, such as a card, to provide user selectable medical information and information to obtain eligibility of healthcare payments

ABSTRACT

A method obtains and stores medical information in a machine-readable format. An interface is provided to select a portion of the medical information. In response to a user selection, the portion is displayed on a substrate, and the medical information is accessed by information, recorded in a machine-readable format on the substrate. A system includes a healthcare provider processing device obtaining eligibility information from the substrate and generating an eligibility request to an entity processing device that forwards the eligibility request to a payer. An eligibility response from the payer is then provided to the healthcare provider via the entity processing device. In an embodiment, medical information in a paper format is faxed using a unique user identifier and password and categorized into a machine-readable format.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/208,144 filed Aug. 19, 2005 entitled “ELECTRONICPERSONAL HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM,” which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 11/085,984 filed Mar. 21, 2005 entitled “ELECTRONICPERSONAL HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM,” which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 10/387,041 filed on Mar. 10, 2003 entitled“HEALTHCARE PROVIDER-PATIENT ONLINE CONSULTATION SYSTEM,” and is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/641,982 filed on Aug.15, 2003 entitled “HEALTHCARE PROVIDER-PATIENT ONLINE CONSULTATION ANDCOMPLIANCE PROGRAM.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to providing medical information, suchas medical history of an individual, and eligibility for payment ofhealthcare.

BACKGROUND

A healthcare provider may have difficulty in obtaining medicalinformation desired for a healthcare recipient, such as a patient. Themedical information, such as an allergy or an image of a healthcarerecipient, may be necessary for a proper diagnosis and/or treatment.Medical information of the healthcare recipient may be distributed in avariety of locations and in a variety of different formats. Medicalinformation may be stored, for example, at a previous healthcareprovider, a specialist, a healthcare plan provider (such as insurancecompany) or the healthcare recipient (or caregiver). Medical informationmay be stored in either an electronic or paper format. Medicalinformation possessed by different healthcare providers (or thehealthcare recipient) may have incompatible electronic formats thatprevent one healthcare provider from readily accessing transferredmedical information. One healthcare provider may use particularapplication software for retrieving, creating and viewing images, whileanother healthcare provider uses different application software forretrieving, creating and viewing images. Medical information also may beincomplete or lost during storage and transfers that may lead toduplicate tests, unnecessary hospitalizations and other side effectscontributing to healthcare costs. A request for transferring medicalinformation may also increase healthcare costs. The delay in waiting forthe transferred medical information may also lead to a delay indiagnosis or treatment that reduces the effectiveness of the healthcare.

A healthcare provider also may have difficulty in obtaining informationregarding eligibility of healthcare payments, such as whether a patientis covered by a particular insurance healthcare plan or insurancecarrier. A healthcare recipient may have a document that indicatescoverage of a particular healthcare plan, such as a policy number.Typically, a healthcare recipient does not select what information andin what form the information is provided on the document. A healthcarerecipient may provide this document to the healthcare provider beforediagnosis or treatment. However, this document may not provide currentand detailed eligibility information, such as whether a particular testis authorized or whether the healthcare recipient is currently eligible.For example, the healthcare recipient may have changed employment andthus insurance healthcare plans are not reflected by the document oralternatively has reached insurance coverage limits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a system using a card having medical informationand/or information to obtain eligibility of healthcare paymentsaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method using a card having medical informationand/or information to obtain eligibility of healthcare paymentsaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 3A illustrates a graphical user interface, such as a Web page, toprovide a request for eligibility information according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3B illustrates a graphical user interface, such as a Web page, toprovide a response to a request for eligibility according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3C illustrates a graphical user interface, such as a Web page, toprovide medical information, such as a health record, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a processing device for obtaining eligibilityinformation according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 5A-F illustrate graphical user interfaces, such as informationdisplayed on the processing device shown in FIG. 4 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method to allow a user to customize a card havingmedical information and/or information to obtain eligibility ofhealthcare payments according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 7A-D illustrate a graphical user interface, such as a Web page, toprovide a customized card according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 8A-C illustrate a card having medical information and informationto obtain eligibility of healthcare payments according to embodiments ofthe invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a system for converting paper medical informationinto a categorized electronic format according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method for converting paper medical informationinto a categorized electronic format according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates application software architecture according to anembodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates router software architecture according to anembodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates payer eligibility software architecture according toan embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An article of manufacture, such as a credit card sized health cardhaving a magnetic strip, includes user selected medical informationand/or information to obtain eligibility of healthcare payments and/orinformation to access remotely stored medical information, such as apersonal health record, in embodiments. Information to access remotelystored medical information of an individual and/or information to obtaineligibility of healthcare payments of that individual is magneticallystored on the magnetic strip. An individual, such as a healthcarerecipient (or caregiver of the healthcare recipient), or sponsor maycustomize the medical information displayed on the health card. In anembodiment, a method obtains and stores medical information including amedical history in a machine-readable format, such as an electronicformat, at a remote site. An interface to select a portion of themedical information is provided to an individual or user. In response toa user selection, the portion of the medical information is displayed ona substrate, such as a health card, and the medical information may beaccessed from the remote site by using information recorded in amachine-readable format, such as on a magnetic strip, that is disposedon the health card. In embodiments, the portion of medical informationdisplayed on the health card may be emergency contact information and/orallergies. The remotely stored medical information may be accessed byreading an address indicating where the medical information is stored,such as a universal resource locator (URL), a user identifier and a userpassword stored on the magnetic strip. The health card is then providedto the user.

In an embodiment, a system includes a healthcare provider processingdevice to obtain information to access eligibility information from thehealth card and generating an eligibility request to an entityprocessing device that forwards the eligibility request to a payerprocessing device. An eligibility response from the payer processingdevice is then provided to the healthcare provider processing device viathe entity processing device.

In an embodiment, medical information in a paper format is provided andconverted into a machine-readable format. The medical information in amachine-readable format is then sorted and stored by respective medicalcategories.

Thus, a healthcare provider is able to obtain timely, complete, andcurrent medical information of a healthcare recipient as well asdetailed eligibility information regarding payment of healthcare for thehealthcare recipient before providing healthcare. A user is able toselect what medical information is displayed or viewable by individualsand what medical information is viewable by a machine or processingdevice. The effect of medical treatment and/or diagnosis may be improvedbecause delays in obtaining medical and eligibility information arereduced. Urgent care may be provided in a timely manner because ofimmediate access to complete medical information and emergency contactinformation. Likewise, eliminating duplicate tests, unnecessaryhospitalization, side effects and requests for medical information mayreduce the cost of providing healthcare.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 using a card 121 having medicalinformation and/or information to obtain eligibility of healthcarepayments according to an embodiment. System 100 includes a healthcareprovider processing device 101 a or alternatively processing device 101b (101 a/b), entity processing device 102 and payer processing device103. In an embodiment, processing device 101 a is a general-purposecomputer coupled to a wedge 130. In an embodiment, processing device 101b is a point-of-care eligibility device or a card reader. In anembodiment, processing devices 101 a/b, 102 and 103 are coupled by anetwork (wired and/or wireless) that may include a wide area network,local area network, telephone lines, and the Internet (also known as theWorld Wide Web), singly or in combination. In embodiments, system 100includes a plurality of processing devices 101 a/b and a plurality ofprocessing devices 103. In an embodiment, healthcare processing device101 a is coupled via the Internet to a third party processing device,such as processing device 902 shown in FIG. 9, that stores medicalinformation of healthcare recipient 122 (as well as others) in a machine(computer) readable or electronic format.

In an embodiment, a healthcare recipient 122 provides card 121 thatstores an address to obtain remotely stored machine readable medicalinformation, a user (or individual) identifier and password and/orinformation to obtain eligibility of healthcare payments to healthcareprovider 120. Healthcare provider 120 then uses card 121 with processingdevice 101 a/b to obtain medical information of healthcare recipient 122(from processing device 902 in an embodiment) and/or generate aneligibility request for payment of healthcare (to payer processingdevice 103 via entity processing device 102).

In an embodiment, healthcare provider 120 uses card 121 with processingdevice 101 a and a wedge 130 to obtain information to access medicalinformation and/or information to obtain eligibility of healthcarepayments by swiping card 121 through wedge 130. In an embodiment, wedge130 is used to obtain information for accessing medical informationand/or information to obtain eligibility of healthcare payments storedon a magnetic strip disposed on card 121. In an embodiment, processingdevice 101 a includes a processor coupled to a machine-readable medium(such as a storage device including an integrated circuit memory device)that stores an application software 141 (machine readable/executableinstructions) to read a URL, user identifier and password from card 121via wedge 130 and access remotely stored medical information of thehealthcare recipient. In an embodiment, application software 141accesses a browser stored on processing device 101 a.

In an alternate embodiment, healthcare provider 120 uses card 121 withprocessing device 101 b to obtain eligibility information by swipingcard 121 through processing device 101 b. In an embodiment, processingdevice 101 b stores an application software 141 (machinereadable/executable instructions) to read information to obtaineligibility information from card 121. Processing device 101 a/bgenerates an eligibility request to processing device 102 in response toinformation used to obtain eligibility information obtained from card121. Processing device 102 then routes or forwards the eligibilityrequest to processing device 103. In an embodiment, processing device102 stores router software 142 (machine readable/executableinstructions) to route the eligibility request to the appropriate payerprocessing device. In an embodiment, router software 142 includes aplurality of addresses to a plurality of processing devices 103 (or Websites) that are used to route the eligibility request in response to theinformation to obtain eligibility information, such as a payeridentifier (read from card 121), in the eligibility request. Routersoftware 142 also keeps track of the source address (or processingdevice 101 a/b address) of the eligibility request so that a subsequenteligibility response from the payer processing device 103 may beforwarded to processing device 101 a/b.

Payer processing device 103 generates an eligibility response to entityprocessing device 102 in response to the eligibility request from entityprocessing device 102. In an embodiment, processing device 102 storespayer eligibility rules software 143 (machine readable/executableinstructions) to decide the eligibility information of healthcarerecipient 122 at a particular time. Payer eligibility rules software 143determines whether healthcare recipient 122 is a member of a particularhealthcare plan and detailed eligibility information, such aseligibility of payment, eligibility of particular treatments and/orbenefits, percent coinsurance, co-pay amount, deductible and/or limit ofbenefits (and/or current amount of benefits used during a period oftime, such as year to date (YTD)). In an embodiment, payer eligibilityrules software 143 generates the eligibility response.

In an embodiment, processing devices 101 a, 102 and 103 (also processingdevice 902 as seen in FIG. 9) shown in FIG. 1 are at least a server, amainframe computer, a general purpose computer or an equivalent thereof.In an embodiment, processing devices 101 a, 102, 103 and 902respectively include at least one processor coupled to amachine-readable medium (such as a storage device including anintegrated circuit memory device) for storing software or executablemachine-readable instructions. In embodiments, processing devices 101 a,102, 103 and 902 include a distributed architecture or represent manyprocessing devices having respective processors located in near or farphysical proximity. In an embodiment, processing device 101 a shown inFIG. 1 is an information appliance, a desktop computer, a handheldcomputer, a telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or anequivalent thereof. In an embodiment, processing devices 101 a, 102, 103and 902 are coupled to the Internet by a wired and/or wirelessconnection.

In an embodiment, a healthcare provider 120 may be a healthcare providerauthorized to practice medicine, such as a physician, nurse, physician'sassistant, or nurse practitioner. In embodiments, hospitals, medicalgroups, universities, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), medicalcenters, emergency rooms (ER) and/or laboratories employ or areassociated with healthcare provider 120. In other embodiments,healthcare provider 120 is a chiropractor, optometrist or dentist. In anembodiment, healthcare provider 120 is a service provider such aspharmacist or lab technician who provides services to primary healthcareproviders such as physicians. In an embodiment, healthcare provider 120is a physician's assistant that does not practice independently. In anembodiment, healthcare provider 120 merely needs to be subservient to ahealthcare provider (e.g., physician) and working within the healthcareprovider's practice group, where the healthcare provider is associatedwith the healthcare provider network in an embodiment. In an embodiment,a healthcare provider 120 may be anyone who obtains medical informationand/or eligibility information on behalf of a physician in conjunctionwith care being provided by a physician or other healthcare provider. Inan embodiment, healthcare provider 120 may merely be an individual, whoworks in the healthcare industry, and individual who is merelyassociated with a physician, or an individual who provides healthcarefor the individual.

In an embodiment, healthcare recipient 122 is an individual or a patientof healthcare provider 120. Healthcare recipient 122 may be a relative(e.g., parent or sibling), caregiver or individual covered by anotherindividual's health insurance or healthcare plan in embodiments.

In an embodiment, medical information stored on processing device 109 isin the form of “an electronic personal health record” as described inthe above referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/208,144 filedAug. 19, 2005 entitled “ELECTRONIC PERSONAL HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM.” In anembodiment, medical information may include information that may bepertinent to the medical history of the patient such as medications,conditions, allergies, surgeries, immunizations (all—current and past)family medical history, lifestyle information, health risks (e.g. sexualencounters), vital signs, tests or lab results, imaging results (e.g.,x-rays), and a “review of systems” indicating a review of the patient'ssystems by a healthcare provider 120. Medical information may alsoinclude registry information indicating implantable devices or diseasespertinent to healthcare recipient 122. Medical information may includecontact information such as emergency contact information, caregivercontact information, and physician information identifying one or morephysicians of healthcare recipient 122. Healthcare recipient 122 mayalso choose to specify his or her preferences, such as at least onepreferred pharmacy and/or at least one preferred hospital. Moreover, aphotograph of healthcare recipient 122 may also be included with themedical information.

In accordance with one embodiment, a healthcare recipient 122 and/orhealthcare provider 120 submits basic information via a registrationprocess as described in the above referenced U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/208,144 filed Aug. 19, 2005 entitled “ELECTRONIC PERSONALHEALTH RECORD SYSTEM.” In accordance with an alternative embodiment, ahealthcare recipient 122 must register through a physician's web site(which may be located on processing device 101 a) in order to input orupdate medical information via the physician's web site. Thus, if theuser has not yet registered with the physician's web site, the user maygo through the registration process in order to submit his or hermedical information via the physician's web site. In an embodiment, ahealthcare recipient is not able to register and input medicalinformation unless the healthcare recipient first requests healthcarefrom a healthcare provider who is currently providing healthcareservices to or associated with the healthcare recipient. Thus, ahealthcare provider is able to authenticate the healthcare recipient(and the medical information associated with the healthcare recipient)when healthcare services are provided to the healthcare recipient. Forexample, a healthcare provider will be able to authenticate that JaneDoe is in fact a female having a certain height and weight withparticular medical conditions, etc. during Jane Doe's scheduledtreatment (or having previously treated her). In an embodiment, ahealthcare recipient may not register until the healthcare providerconfirms that healthcare services have or will be provided shortly (forexample, the healthcare recipient is on a patient list of the physicianor scheduled for an appointment). This authentication of a healthcarerecipient (patient) or a health record holder provides healthcareproviders and third parties such as payers, software vendors—includinge-prescribing and other vendors who process patient clinicalinformation—and others with knowledge that a healthcare provider hasauthenticated a patient, which will mitigate concerns over patientauthenticity and allow them to transfer medical information to thehealth record holder for inclusion in to their health record. Inaccordance with one embodiment, the user may click on the “Log In”hypertext link to log in or the “New User” hypertext link in order toregister with the physician's web site as a new user.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 using a card 121 having information toaccess remotely stored medical information and/or information to obtaineligibility of healthcare payments according to embodiments. FIG. 2, aswell as FIGS. 6 and 10, illustrate logic boxes or steps representing theperformance of specific functions. In alternate embodiments, more orfewer logic boxes or steps are used. In an embodiment, a logic box orstep may represent, at least in part, an execution of software. Softwaremay be a software program, a software object, a software function, asoftware subroutine, a software method, a software instance, one or moremachine readable/executable instructions, a code fragment or a database.In an embodiment, a logic box or step may represent, at least in part, ahardware operation or an individual operation, such as healthcareprovider 120 and healthcare recipient 122, singly or in combination.

Method 200 begins by providing a card having information to obtainmedical information and/or information to obtain eligibility ofhealthcare payments to a healthcare provider as illustrated in logicblock 201. In an embodiment, healthcare recipient 122 provides card 121to healthcare provider 120 as illustrated in FIG. 1. As describedherein, card 121 displays user selectable medical information andinformation to obtain remotely stored medical information andeligibility of healthcare payments regarding healthcare recipient 122.

In logic block 202, a healthcare provider processing device generates aneligibility request regarding payment of healthcare to a payerprocessing device (via an entity processing device). In a web-basedembodiment, processing device 101 a generates the eligibility requestafter a healthcare provider 120 swipes card 121 through wedge 130. Inthe web-based embodiment, processing device 101 a is a general purposeprocessing device, such as a desktop computer. In a web-basedembodiment, healthcare provider 120 is provided with a graphic userinterface, such as Web page 300, to a display of processing device 101 aas shown in FIG. 3A in response to information obtained from card 121and application software 141 that executes on processing device 101 a.

In a web-based embodiment, information is transferred between processingdevices, by way of the Internet 903 shown in FIG. 9, using numerous typeof technologies. For example, individual processing device 101 aaccomplishes information transactions with processing devices 102 and902 by using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”). Healthcareprovider 120 accesses, by way of individual processing device 101 a, Webpages or documents on the Web (that may include text, graphics, images,sound and/or video) stored on Internet 903 or processing device 902using typically a standard page description language known as theHypertext Markup Language (“HTML”). HTML provides basic document or Webpage formatting and allows for “links” to other Web pages that may bestored on other processing devices. A URL having a specific syntaxidentifies a network path or connection to a Web page stored on aprocessing device or in Internet 903. Embedded hypertext links on aparticular Web page can be used to find related information. By clickingon a hypertext link in a particular Web page, healthcare provider 120can display another related Web page or even invoke a related softwareprogram.

In a Web-based embodiment, retrieval of information is generallyachieved by the use of an HTML-compatible “browser” (for example,Microsoft® Explorer) stored on processing device 101 a. When healthcareprovider 120 using a browser specifies a link via a URL, processingdevice 101 a issues a request to a naming service to map a hostname inthe URL to a particular network Internet Protocol (IP) address at whichthe processing device, such as processing device 902 is located. Thenaming service returns a list of one or more IP addresses that canrespond to the request. Using one of the IP addresses, a browserestablishes a connection to a server. If the server is available, itreturns a Web page or other object formatted according to HTML.

A Web site is a set of interconnected Web pages, usually including ahomepage, generally located on the same server, and prepared andmaintained as a collection of information by a person, group ororganization.

In an embodiment, a graphical user interface, such as Web page 300, isprovided to healthcare provider 120 in response to wedge 130 reading aURL from a magnetic strip of card 121. In an embodiment, software 902 astored on processing device 902 provides Web page 300. Other healthcarerecipient information stored on the magnetic strip is provided intofields of Web page 300. As can be seen, the names of the healthcareprovider and payer or “Dr. Jones” and “Blue Cross,” respectively aredisplayed on Web page 300 as well the (healthcare) provider (identifier)ID—“2315578”. Policy Group ID and subscriber ID values or numbers areread from card 121 and provided in the fields 302 and 303 of page 300.After further information may be provided to page 300, healthcareprovider 120 may generate an eligibility request by selecting orclicking on (via a mouse or other pointing device coupled to processingdevice 101 a) the simulated button labeled “Request Eligibility” 301. Asillustrated by logic block 207 in FIG. 2 and graphic user interface (orWeb page 350) of FIG. 3B, eligibility information is then provided tohealthcare provider 120 after a payer processing device receives theeligibility request. In an embodiment, Web page 350 includes eligibilityinformation 360, such as copay (in network) information 360 a forparticular services or treatments (for example, x-rays),deductibles/out-of-pocket (in network) information 360 b anddeductibles/out-of-pocket (out of network) information 360 c. In anembodiment, Web page 350 is provided to a display of processing device101 a and may be saved and/or printed. In an embodiment, Web page 350also includes payer information, patient information and subscriberinformation. A payer associated with payer processing device 103 may bean insurance company, HMO, health plan provider/administrator, tradeassociation, government agency, non-profit organization or otherbusiness entity responsible for paying healthcare.

In an alternate point-of-care device embodiment, processing device 101 bis used with card 121 to generate an eligibility request in logic block202. Processing device 101 b is shown in FIG. 4 while operation ofprocessing device 101 b is shown in FIGS. 5A-F. Processing device 101 bincludes display 401, printout 404 (provided by a printer), keypad 402,slot 405 (or card reader) and keys 403 a-f. In a point-of-careprocessing device embodiment, processing device 101 b generates theeligibility request after a healthcare provider 120 swipes card 121through slot 405.

For example FIG. 5A illustrates beginning the transaction, a“HEALTHCARE” transaction service that is shown on display 401 isselected when a healthcare provider 120 presses key 403 f. Key 403 b isthen pushed by healthcare provider 120 to select obtaining eligibilityinformation that is labeled “ELIGIBILITY” in display 401 adjacent to key403 b. Healthcare provider 120 then swipes or passes card 121 throughslot 405 in order to read information stored on card 121 as shown inFIG. 5C. A healthcare provider ID is then input to processing device 101b by entering the healthcare provider ID by way of keypad 402. An Enterbutton located in the lower right portion of the keypad 402 then may bepressed. In an alternate embodiment, a payer ID may be keyed by way ofkeypad 402. FIG. 5D illustrates a healthcare provider 120 selecting ahealthcare recipient type, such as self, spouse, child or other bypressing keys 403 b, 403 c, 403 e or 403 f. FIGS. 5E-5F illustrate ahealthcare provider 120 entering the healthcare recipient date of birthand date of service (healthcare), followed by pressing the enter button.As illustrated by logic block 207 in FIG. 2 and printout 404 of FIG. 4,eligibility information is then provided to healthcare provider 120after a payer processing device receives the eligibility request andprovides the eligibility response. In an embodiment, print out 404 thenprovides eligibility information similar to eligibility information 360described above.

In an embodiment, processing device 101 b generates an eligibilityrequest that is a HIPAA-compliant 270 transaction and receives aneligibility response that is HIPAA-compliant 271 In an embodiment, aneligibility response is received by processing device 101 b within 10seconds of generating the eligibility request.

In method 200, eligibility requests are provided to an entity processingdevice as illustrated by logic block 203. In an embodiment, entityprocessing device 102 receives and routes an eligibility request inresponse to executing routing software 142 and a payer ID in aneligibility request. In an embodiment, routing software 142 includes aplurality of payer IDs and corresponding IP addresses of payerprocessing devices or Web sites. Router software 142 routes aneligibility request from processing devices 101 a/b to payer processingdevice 103 located at the IP address associated with the payer ID in aneligibility request.

In logic block 204, payer processing device 103 executes eligibilityrules software component 143 in response to receiving the eligibilityrequest from the healthcare provider processing device 101 a/b (viaentity processing device 102) to determine an eligibility responseincluding eligibility information. In an embodiment, each payerprocessing device 103 has different eligibility rules software toprovide different eligibility information.

In logic block 205, payer processing device 103 generates an eligibilityresponse to entity processing device 102 that forwards the eligibilityresponse to healthcare processing device 101 a/b as illustrated in logicblock 206. In an embodiment, routing software 142 keeps track of pendingeligibility requests so that processing device 102 may route theeligibility response to the appropriate IP address (or other address) ofthe healthcare processing device 101 a/b.

In logic block 208, information to obtain medical information, such as aURL, user identifier and user password, is read. In an embodiment, theinformation is read from a magnetic strip of card 121 by wedge 130 sothat processing device 101 a may access medical information ofhealthcare recipient 122 that may be stored on another processingdevice, such as processing device 902. FIG. 3C illustrates medicalinformation (or a health record) provided on Web page 380 for healthcarerecipient 122, such as “Jane Doe”. The medical information may includeregistration information 381, patient information 382, medications 383,conditions/medical history 384 and allergies 385 in an embodiment.Medical information is then accessed as illustrated by logic block 209.In an embodiment, application software 141 causes a browser stored onprocessing device 101 a to access a URL stored on a magnetic strip ofcard 121. Application software 141 then enters a user identifier andpassword into a Web page (site) identified by the URL in order to accessthe medical information, such as medical information shown on Web page380.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 to allow an individual (such ashealthcare recipient 122, family member, caregiver) to customize card121 having user selected medical information and/or information toobtain medical information and/or eligibility of healthcare paymentsaccording to an embodiment. An individual can determine what medicalinformation is provided and/or displayed on card 121 and where detailedmedical information or an electronic personal health record is locatedon the Internet. In an embodiment, important or critical medicalinformation, such as medications, allergies, and major illnesses, isselected by an individual or user to be displayed on card 121. A usercustomizes card 121 before healthcare is provided in an embodiment. Inlogic blocks 601 and 602, medical information of an individual, such asa healthcare recipient 122, is obtained and stored in a machinereadable/executable or electronic format. In an embodiment, the medicalinformation is in the form and obtained by way of “an electronicpersonal health record” as described in the above referenced U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/208,144 filed Aug. 19, 2005 entitled “ELECTRONICPERSONAL HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM.” In an embodiment, card 121 is customizedby a user at the end of “a registration process” as described in theabove referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/208,144 filed Aug.19, 2005 entitled “ELECTRONIC PERSONAL HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM.”

In an embodiment, a coupon having a coupon code for a card 121 or adiscount in purchasing card 121 is obtained as illustrated by logicblock 603. In an embodiment, a payer or sponsor, such as a university orHMO, provides a coupon.

Logic blocks 604 illustrate providing a graphical user interface, or Webpage 700, to allow a user or individual to select customizing a card 121by clicking on “iHealthcard” simulated button 701. In an embodiment, Webpage 700 is provided to a user at the end of a registration in which “anelectronic personal health record”, as described above, is created,maintained and/or updated. After iHealthcard simulated button 701 isclicked or selected by a user, graphical user interface, or Web page 710as shown in FIG. 7B, is provided to a user. In an embodiment, software902 b obtains the medical information associated with the user fromsoftware/database 902 a of processing device 902 and provides Web page710 having the user's associated medical information.

A user may obtain a discounted or free card 121 by entering in a couponcode to field 713. A user then selects the medical information to bedisplayed on card 121 by clicking on the check box fields associatedwith the user's medical information stored in software/database 902 a asillustrated by logic block 605. In particular, a user selects the user'smedical information associated with categories: emergency contacts 714,clinicians 715, medications 716, conditions 717, allergies 718 and/orinsurance 719, singly or in combination.

A simulation of card 121 as shown by graphics display or simulated card723 a-b then may be shown to the user in response to the user selectingthe simulated “Save and Preview” button 712 as illustrated by logicblock 606. As can be seen in simulated card 723 a-b, certain medicalinformation is not displayed as selected by a user. For example, an“Arthritis” condition is not displayed and will not ultimately beprinted on card 121. In an embodiment, a logo of a sponsor or payer isprovided in field 722 of the simulated card 723. In an embodiment, boththe front and back of card 121 (723 a-b) is provided as simulated card723. When a user is satisfied with what medical information is displayedby way of viewing simulated card 723, a user may click on “OrderiHealthcard” simulated button 720 as illustrated by logic block 607. Inan embodiment, a JavaScript in software 902 b is used to provide asimulation of card 121.

User customized medical information (or a portion of medicalinformation) is then displayed or printed on card 121 as illustrated bylogic block 608. Information to access remotely stored medicalinformation and/or information to obtain eligibility of healthcarepayments is recorded magnetically, electronically or by bar code on card121 as illustrated by logic block 609. In an embodiment, a URL, useridentifier and user password that identifies (as well as enables access)the location of medical information on the Internet is recorded on card121. In an embodiment, information to obtain eligibility of healthcarepayments is recorded as described below in regard to Table A andillustrated in FIGS. 3A-B and 9.

Logic block 610 illustrates charging a user based on a coupon in anembodiment. Web pages 730 and 740 as shown in FIGS. 7C-D are provided toa user in order to acknowledge a valid coupon and obtain credit cardinformation, respectively.

Method 600 ends by providing a user, sponsor or partner with card 121having user selected displayed medical information and/or recordedinformation to obtain remotely stored medical information and/oreligibility of healthcare payments. In an embodiment and as illustratedby logic block 611, a customized card is provided to a user by U.S. mailwithin one week.

FIGS. 8A-C illustrate a card having displayed medical information andinformation to obtain remotely stored medical information andeligibility of healthcare payments that is provided to a healthcarerecipient 122 according to embodiments. In an embodiment, cards 800 and810 correspond to card 121. In an embodiment, FIG. 8A illustrates afront of a card 800 where header labels are not shown while FIG. 8Billustrates a card 810 where header labels are shown. For example,Angela White's “Height,” “Eyes,” “Hair,” “Emergency Contact” and “MyDoctors” header labels are not shown in card 800 where labels are shownin card 810. In an embodiment, the medical information or personalinformation associated with the header labels is recorded magnetically(by way of the magnetic strip), electronically or by bar codes. Headerlabels are not shown in order to increase confidentiality and securityof the information. In an embodiment, a user may select whether headerlabels are displayed on card 121 as illustrated by logic block 605above.

FIG. 8C illustrates a card 820 having a front 820 a and a back 820 b. Inan embodiment, card 820 corresponds to card 121. Information to obtainremotely stored medical information and information to obtaineligibility of healthcare payments may be recorded on magnetic strip 821and/or on bar codes 822. In an alternate embodiment, information toobtain remotely stored medical information and information to obtaineligibility of healthcare payments is recorded electronically or on anintegrated circuit memory device disposed on card 820. In an embodiment,general medical information (including header labels) is displayed onfront 820 a along with sponsor logo 722. In an embodiment, criticalmedical information or medical information (along with header labels)selected by the user is displayed on back 820 b.

In an embodiment, card 820 is a “wallet card” as described in the abovereferenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/208,144 filed Aug. 19,2005 entitled “ELECTRONIC PERSONAL HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM.”

In an embodiment, card 820 is a 30 mil plastic (or laminated) card whichis an industry standard for the merchant credit card industry. Inembodiments, track 3 of the magnetic strip 821 on card 820 is encodedwith payer and healthcare recipient information including: payer ID,subscriber ID, subscriber date of birth, subscriber Name and/orgroup/policy number, singly or in combination. A subscriber may be ahealthcare recipient 122, family member or caregiver in embodiments.

In an embodiment, field numbers, field names, field lengths andcharacters for track 3 of magnetic strip 821 of card 820 is shown inTable A below.

TABLE A Field Number Field Name Field Length Character 0 Start Code N/A— 1 Start Sentinel 1 % 2 Format Code 1 H 3 Payer ID 10 Alpha/Numeric 4Field Separator 1 {circumflex over ( )} 5 Subscriber ID 20 Alpha/Numeric6 Field Separator 1 {circumflex over ( )} 7 Subscriber DOB 8 Numeric 8Subscriber Name 26 Alpha/Numeric 9 Field Separator 1 {circumflex over( )} 10 Group/Policy # 11 Alpha/Numeric 11 End Sentinel 1 ? 12 LRC 1Total Length 82

In an embodiment, card 820 and in particular magnetic strip 821 includesinformation for financial transactions and/or to integrate with ahealthcare institution's internal systems such as an electronic medicalrecords (EMR) system software and admissions, discharge and transfer(ADT) system software.

In an embodiment, card 820 and in particular magnetic strip 821 includesa URL, user identifier and user password recorded consecutively on apredetermined track in an Alpha/Numeric format separated by fieldseparators.

FIG. 9 illustrates a system 900 for converting and categorizing papermedical information according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 illustrates user(or individual) processing device 901, healthcare processing device 101a, and processing device 902 coupled to Internet 903. In an embodiment,processing devices 901, 101 a and 902 transfer information over Internet903 as described above. In an embodiment, processing device 902 storesand executes user card customizing software 902 b and healthcarerecipient electronic medical information database/software 902 a thataccesses medical information of healthcare recipient 122 stored onprocessing device 902. In an embodiment, method 600 illustrates, atleast in part, the operation of software 902 b. In particular, user 910operates processing device 901 to store medical information (executingsoftware 902 a) in processing device 902 and customize card 121(executing software 902 b). User 910 may also provide paper medicalinformation 920 to operators of processing device 902 so that the papermedical information 920 can be converted into a machine readable (orelectronic) form and categorized by database/software 902 a forrespective healthcare recipients.

In an embodiment, a user will be given a unique user identifier andpassword for facsimile transmission (fax) of paper medical information920 to processing device 902, which will direct their healthcareinformation into and populate the medical information, or health record,associated with the individual.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 that converts paper medicalinformation 920 into machine readable/electronic form and categorizesthe converted information for each healthcare recipient insoftware/database 902 a. Method 1000 begins by a user 910 (orindividual) obtaining medical information for an individual orhealthcare recipient as illustrated by logic block 1001. The paperinformation is converted to machine readable/electronic format asillustrated by logic block 1002. In an embodiment, user 910 scans papermedical information 920 and e-mails the scanned paper medicalinformation 920 to operators of processing device 902. In an alternateembodiment, user 910 faxes the paper medical information 920 using aunique user identifier and password to processing device 902. In analternate embodiment, paper medical information 920 is mailed tooperators of processing device 902 who then convert the faxes to machinereadable format.

Logic block 1003 illustrates storing the converted paper medicalinformation into a machine readable (electronic) format viewable and/oraccessible by the healthcare recipient. In an embodiment, software 902 ain response to selections from a healthcare recipient stores and sorts,as illustrated by logic block 1004, the converted paper medicalinformation that is viewable from processing device 902 into medicalcategories associated with the healthcare recipient. In an alternateembodiment, a healthcare recipient sorts and categorizes converted papermedical information in their associated medical information, or healthrecord, by way of a user interface, or Web page. In an embodiment, theconverted paper medical information may be stored in categories such aslab reports, diagnostic reports, clinical summaries, EKGs, images,advanced directive and/or other patient specific information.

In an embodiment, user 910 will be charged a fee for converting papermedical information 920 into machine readable/electronic and categorysorted form as shown by logic block 1007.

In an embodiment, a user 910 may customize a card 121 as illustrated bylogic block 1005 and similar to logic blocks 604-605 in method 600. Asimulation of card 121 may be provided to user 910 and a user 910 mayselect other categories when the simulation of card 121 is notsatisfactory as illustrated by logic block 1006 in an embodiment and assimilarly described in method 600 of FIG. 6.

Method 1000 ends by providing a customized card 121 to user 910 asillustrated in logic blocks 1008 and as similarly described in method600 of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate software architectures that represent softwarestored and/or executed on processing devices described herein. Software,singly or in combination, may be stored on an article of manufacture,such as a computer (or machine) readable medium, that are included orassociated with the processing devices described herein. For example,software may be stored in a magnetic hard disk, a magnetic tape, anoptical disk, a floppy disk, Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), anintegrated circuit memory device such as Random Access Memory (RAM),Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-OnlyMemory (EEPROM) or other readable or writeable data storagetechnologies, singly or in combination.

FIG. 11 illustrates application software architecture 1100 according toan embodiment. Application software architecture 1100 includeseligibility response software 1100 e, eligibility request generationsoftware 1100 c, registered healthcare recipients database 1100 d,graphical user interface (for example, a physician web site) software1100 b and card reader software 1100 a that is stored and executed onprocessing device 101 a. In an embodiment, application softwarearchitecture 1100 corresponds to software 141 shown in FIG. 1.

Card reader software 1100 a is responsible for reading information toobtain remotely stored medical information and information to obtaineligibility of healthcare payments from card 121. The information toobtain medical information and information to obtain eligibility ofhealthcare payments may be stored on card 121 in a magnetic bar codeand/or electronic form. In an embodiment, card reader software 1100 aobtains an address, such as a URL, and causes a browser to access theweb site identified by the address. Card reader software 1100 a thenreads a user identifier and password from card 121 so that the useridentifier and password values may be entered into the appropriatefields at the web site identified by the URL thereby enabling access ofmedical information by a healthcare provider.

Graphical user interface software 1100 b is responsible for providingthe medical information and eligibility of healthcare paymentsinformation to a healthcare provider. Graphical user interface software1100 b is also responsible for allowing a user, such as a healthcareprovider, to enter and update medical information. Likewise, Graphicaluser interface software 1100 b is responsible for allowing a user toregister. Graphical user interface software 1100 b is also responsiblefor allowing the user to enter and view information associated with aneligibility request and/or eligibility response. In an embodiment,Graphical user interface software 1100 b provides Web pages 300, 350 and380 shown in FIGS. 3A-C.

Eligibility request generation software 1100 c is responsible forgenerating an eligibility request to payer processing device 103 viaentity processing device 102 in an embodiment. An eligibility requestmay include the information shown in Table A above, singly or incombination that has been retrieved from card 121. In an embodiment,eligibility request generation software 1100 c compares a subscriber IDread from card 121 with subscriber IDs that have been registered andstored in registered healthcare recipient software/database 1000 d. Inan alternate embodiment, processing device 101 a accesses processingdevice 902 to determine whether the read subscriber ID from card 121matches registered healthcare recipients associated with healthcareprovider 120 before an eligibility request is generated.

Eligibility response software 1100 e is responsible for receivingeligibility responses from payer processing device 103 (via entityprocessing device 102) in response to previously sent eligibilityrequests.

FIG. 12 illustrates router software architecture 1200 according to anembodiment. Router software architecture 1200 includes router software1200 a, payer IDs 1200 b, Payer (IP) addresses 1200 c and Healthcareprovider (IP) addresses 1200 d that are stored and executed onprocessing device 102. In an embodiment, router software architecture1200 corresponds to router software 142 shown in FIG. 1. In anembodiment, router software 1200 a uses a payer ID in a receivedeligibility request from processing device 101 a/b and selects thecorresponding payer address in Payer (IP) addresses 1200 c to route theeligibility request to the location of payer processing device 103. Inan embodiment, payer IDs 1200 b are a list of payer IDs that haveassociated payer addresses in Payer (IP) addresses 1200 c. In anembodiment, payer addresses, as well as healthcare provider (IP)addresses, are IP addresses to respective payer and Healthcareprocessing devices. Similarly, router software 1200 a routes aneligibility response to the appropriate healthcare processing device byusing Healthcare processing addresses 1200 d to reroute the eligibilityresponse from payer processing device 103 to healthcare processingdevice 101 a/b. In an embodiment, router software 1200 a maintains aqueue of outstanding eligibility requests and associated healthcareprovider addresses in order to know where to route the outstandingeligibility response.

FIG. 13 illustrates payer eligibility software architecture 1300according to an embodiment. Payer eligibility software architecture 1300includes eligibility request reception software 1300 c, payer rulessoftware 1300 b, and eligibility response generation software 1300 athat is stored and executed on processing device 103. In an embodiment,payer eligibility software architecture 1300 corresponds to payereligibility rules software 143 shown in FIG. 1.

Eligibility request reception software 1300 c is responsible forreceiving an eligibility request from entity processing device 102 in anembodiment. Eligibility request reception software 1300 c parses theeligibility request and passes the information to payer rules software1300 b. In an embodiment, payer rules software 1300 b determines theeligibility information for a particular healthcare recipient at aparticular time. In an embodiment, payer rules software 1300 b accessesa list in registered healthcare recipients' database 1100 d associatedwith the healthcare provider that is stored at payer processing device103 and compares a received subscriber ID in a received eligibilityrequest with the list in order to determine whether the healthcarerecipient is eligible for healthcare payments. When a receivedsubscriber ID matches an entry on the list, payer rules software 1300 bprovides eligibility information to eligibility response generationsoftware 1300 a. Eligibility response generation software 1300 a thengenerates an eligibility response including eligibility information tohealthcare processing device 101 a/b (via entity processing device 102)in response to the output of payer rules software 1300 b.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A computing system implemented process comprising: obtaining, by aprocessing device, medical information of an individual; storing, by theprocessing device, the medical information in a machine readable format;providing, by the processing device, an interface to enable theindividual to select a portion of the medical information intended bythe individual to be displayed on a plastic card, the plastic cardcomprising at least one of a barcode, a magnetic strip, and anintegrated circuit; receiving, by the processing device, a selectionfrom the individual of the portion of the medical information of theindividual; displaying, by the processing device, the portion of themedical information on the plastic card; recording, by the processingdevice, information to access the medical information in a machinereadable format that is disposed on the plastic card; and recording, bythe processing device, information to obtain eligibility for payment ofhealthcare for the individual in the machine readable format.
 2. Thecomputing system implemented process of claim 1, wherein the individualis a healthcare recipient and the medical information includesinformation selected from a group consisting of a name of theindividual, an individual to contact in case of emergency, a clinicianused by the individual, a medication taken by the individual, a medicalcondition of the individual, and an allergy of the individual.
 3. Thecomputing system implemented process of claim 1, wherein the substrateis a plastic card having a magnetic strip, and wherein the informationto access the medical information includes a URL, a user identifier anda password.
 4. The computing system implemented process of claim 1,wherein the substrate is a plastic card having a bar code, and whereinrecording information to access the medical information includesprinting the bar code.
 5. The computing system implemented process ofclaim 1, wherein the substrate is a plastic card having an integratedcircuit, and wherein recording information to access the medicalinformation includes programming the integrated circuit.
 6. Thecomputing system implemented process of claim 1, wherein providing aninterface includes providing a web page to the individual on aprocessing device used by the individual.
 7. The computing systemimplemented process of claim 1, further comprising: providing a couponto the individual; and charging the individual, based on the coupon, toprovide the substrate.
 8. The computing system implemented process ofclaim 1, further comprising: providing a simulation of the substrate,the substrate includes a first side and a second side that is simulated.9-22. (canceled)